Laundry basket

ABSTRACT

A laundry basket has been designed to solve many problems presently experienced by people who use commercial coin operated laundry facilities when washing their clothes. The basic structure of the laundry basket is preferably rectangular in shape. A divider panel has fastening structure on its side edges that mate with structure on the respective side walls of the basket and provide a quick release structure. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket that provides a separate compartment for dirty laundry and washing products. Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket that has a quick release structure on the edges of a divider panel that allows it to be easily attached and detached from the basic laundry basket structure. Still another advantage of the invention to provide an improved novel laundry basket that is economical to manufacture and market.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laundry basket and, more particularly, to a laundry basket that is used for carrying dirty laundry, clothes washing products, and coins for commercial washing and drying machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Consumers have been using traditional plastic molded laundry baskets since time in memoriam. These baskets come in all sizes and shapes according to personal preference. Presently a large percentage of our population lives in apartments and rental housing and do not have their own washing machines and clothes dryers.

These people periodically take a load of dirty laundry to the commercial laundry for self-washing. In doing so they stack their laundry baskets full of dirty laundry, pile their boxes of detergent, fabric softener, bleach, etc. on top of the load and then struggle with a hand full of change. More often than desired, the person carrying the mountain of laundry and boxes manages to drop one or more items and while attempting to pick them up additional items manage to fall.

The general idea of providing a laundry basket with receptacles or compartments for different types of clothing or to accommodate laundry products is not new. One prior art laundry basket includes some clothes washing products compartment as part of the basket in addition to a section for clothing. Since these compartments are both contained in the context of a standard laundry basket, it offers reduced space for the clothing as well as marginally sufficient space for boxes of laundry products.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel improved laundry basket that provides a separate compartment for dirty laundry and washing products.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel improved laundry basket that has a quick release structure on the edges of a divider panel that allows it to be easily attached and detached from the basic laundry basket structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved novel laundry basket that is economical to manufacture and market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A laundry basket (the basket) of the present invention includes side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom including a plurality of openings. The rear wall and the front wall include handles defined therein for carrying the basket. The basket includes a divider wall inserted and secured by a pair of female connectors connected to and extending from the side walls. Each female connector includes a top portion connected and extending from each of the side walls, an extension portion extending perpendicular to the top portion and presenting a pocket portion defined by V-shaped neck portion with side edges spaced by an elongated slot adaptable to receive side ribs or extensions of the divider includes a pair of side terminal end each terminates to the side ribs. The laundry basket can be formed from any material including and not limited to polymer, metal, wood, and combination thereof without limiting the scope of the present invention. The divider wall is adaptable to selectively separate the laundry basket between several positions wherein one position separates the laundry basket into two equal parts and a second position where the laundry basket is separated into two sections with one section being smaller than the second section and a third position wherein one of the section is divided into two sections.

A laundry basket has been designed to solve many problems presently experienced by people who use commercial coin operated laundry facilities when washing their clothes. The basic structure of the laundry basket is preferably rectangular in shape. A divider panel has fastening structure on its side edges that mate with structure on the respective side walls of the basket and provide a quick release structure.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket that provides a separate compartment for dirty laundry and washing products.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket that has a quick release structure on the edges of a divider panel that allows it to be easily attached and detached from the basic laundry basket structure.

Still another advantage of the invention to provide an improved novel laundry basket that is economical to manufacture and market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a laundry basket of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a divider inserting point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts, a laundry basket (the basket) of the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. The basket 10 includes side walls 12, 14, a rear wall 16, a front wall 18, and a bottom 20. The side walls 12, 14, the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the bottom 20 include a plurality of openings 22. The rear wall 16 and the front wall 18 include handles 24 and 26 defined therein for carrying the basket 10. The basket 10 includes a divider wall 28 inserted and secured by a pair of female connectors 30 connected to and extending from the side walls 12 and 14.

Referring to FIG. 5, a mechanical connection is generally indicated at 31. Each female connector 30 includes a top portion 32 connected and extending from each of the side walls 12 and 14, an extension portion 34 extending perpendicular to the top portion 32 and presenting a pocket portion defined by V-shaped neck portion with side edges 38 and 36 spaced by an elongated slot 40 adaptable to receive side ribs or extensions 42 and 44 of the divider 28 includes a pair of side terminal end each terminates to the side ribs 42 and 44.

Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention is generally shown at 50. The basket 50 includes side walls 12, 14, a rear wall 16, a front wall 18, and a bottom 20. The side walls 12, 14, the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the bottom 20 include a plurality of openings 22. The rear wall 16 and the front wall 18 include handles 24 and 26 defined therein for carrying the basket 10.

Alluding to the above, the basket 10 includes a divider wall 52 inserted and secured by a pair of female connectors 31 connected to and extending from the side walls 12 and 14. The basket 50 includes a second pair of the connectors 31A connected to and extending from the side walls 12 and 14 in order to separate the basket 50 into compartment of different dimensions.

Referring to FIG. 3, a top view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention is generally shown at 60. The basket 60 includes side walls 12, 14, a rear wall 16, a front wall 18, and a bottom 20. The side walls 12, 14, the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the bottom 20 include a plurality of openings 22. The rear wall 16 and the front wall 18 include handles 24 and 26 defined therein for carrying the basket 10.

Alluding to the above, the basket 60 includes a first divider wall 62 and a second divider wall 64 inserted and secured by three female connectors 30 connected to and extending from the side walls 12 and 14 and the front wall 18. The second divider wall 64 extends perpendicularly from the first divider wall 62 and connects the first divider wall 62 with the rear wall 18 thereby forming three sections or compartments within the basket 60. The second divider wall 64 may be removably connected to the first divider wall 62 and connects the first divider wall 62 with the rear wall 18 thereby forming three sections or compartments within the basket 60.

Referring to FIG. 4, a top view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention is generally shown at 70. The basket 70 includes side walls 12, 14, a rear wall 16, a front wall 18, and a bottom 20. The side walls 12, 14, the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the bottom 20 include a plurality of openings 22. The rear wall 16 and the front wall 18 include handles 24 and 26 defined therein for carrying the basket 10.

Alluding to the above, the basket 70 includes a divider wall 72 inserted and secured by two female connectors 30 connected to and extending from the side walls 12 and 14. The divider wall 72 is curved extending into a semicircular top portion 74 from terminal ends 78 and 76 inserted into the two female connectors 30.

All laundry baskets 10, 50, 60, and 70 can be formed from any material including and not limited to polymer, metal, wood, and combination thereof without limiting the scope of the present invention. The mechanical connection 31 is identical to all connection as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The divider wall is adaptable to selectively separate the laundry basket between several positions wherein one position separates the laundry basket into two equal parts and a second position where the laundry basket is separated into two sections with one section being smaller than the second section and a third position wherein one of the section is divided into two sections.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket 10 that provides a separate compartment for dirty laundry and washing products.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel improved laundry basket 10 that has a quick release structure on the edges of a divider panel that allows it to be easily attached and detached from the basic laundry basket structure.

Still another advantage of the invention to provide an improved novel laundry basket 10 that is economical to manufacture and market.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A laundry basket for holding and transporting laundry, said laundry basket comprising; side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, and a bottom; and a divider wall inserted and secured by a pair of female connectors connected to and extending from said side walls; and a mechanical connection defined between said divider wall and each of said side walls wherein said divider wall adaptable to selectively separate said laundry basket between several positions wherein one position separates said laundry basket into two equal parts and a second position where said laundry basket is separated into two sections with one section being smaller than the second section and a third position wherein one of said section is divided into two sections.
 2. The laundry basket as set forth in claim 2, wherein said mechanical connection is further defined by at least one female connector including a top portion connected and extending from each of said side walls, an extension portion extending perpendicular to said top portion and presenting a pocket portion defined by V-shaped neck portion with side edges spaced by an elongated slot adaptable to receive side ribs or extensions of said divider wall includes a pair of side terminal end each terminating to said side ribs.
 3. The laundry basket as set forth in claim 2, wherein said divider wall is further defined a first divider wall and a second divider wall inserted and secured by three female connectors connected to and extending from said side walls and said front wall.
 4. The laundry basket as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second divider wall extends perpendicularly from said first divider wall and connects said first divider wall with said rear wall thereby forming three sections within said laundry basket.
 5. The laundry basket as set forth in claim 2, wherein said divider wall is said divider wall is curved extending into a semicircular top portion from terminal ends inserted into said female connectors. 